Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31
TRE NEW JuDaE.
a sketch OF HBis Carecr-The AuOr-
neY-GseueraIshtp.

ney-seneralship,
Governor Biggs Saturday morning ap-
pointed Attorney General John II.
Paynter to the vacancy on the bench
caused by. the death Of the late Judge
Wootten.
This action had been partly anticipated
by the members of the bar here, and the
announcement occasioned little surprise.
The appointments was pretty freely dis.
cussed during the day, the objection
being expressed that Judge Paynter's
deafness would be great drawback in
the trial of cases before him.
John Henry Paynter was born in New
York city February 26th, 1888. his father
having removed TO that city from Della
ware in 1885. After attending the primary
schools as boy, he entered Delaware
College in 1864, and in the following year
was enrolled in the sophomore class Of
Union College at Schenectady, N. Y,
from which he graduated A. b. in 1858.
He pursued his legal studies with the late
Judge Wootten, his predecessor on the
bench, in Georgetown, where, after being
admitted to the bar In 1861, he settled in
the practice of his profession in part
nership with his brother, Edwin Il.
Paynter. In the same yeRr he
received the appointment OF dtputy
attorney general, which position he
held for three years. In 1866 he was
elected TO the State Senate for four years
on the Democratic ticket. During both
sessions he was member of the finance
committee, of which he was chairman
during the last session. During this
period he was appointed attorney. general
H., hattl hn Fa-
signed after few weeks service, his term
as senator not having expired and there
being in consequence some legal doubt OF
his eligibility to the Office. In 1871 he
was appointed secretary of state by Gov.
Ponder, which Office he held for four
years. During this term, in company
with James l.. Wolcott., Esq, he was
employed by tho Legislature TO draft the
tax laws Of the State, which were passed
aud are now in force. In 1871 the Legis-
lature commissioned him to codify and
publish the laws of the State. No codif.
!. cation had been made since 1850, so that
there was an immense volume of work in
the undertaking. and Mr.. Pgynter was
three years in fulfilling this commission.
The revised code was published under
: his supervision in 1874. He was
delegate TO the Democratic national
convention at Baltimore in 1879, and op-
posed the nomination of Horace Greeley.
From 1876 to 1885 he practiced law at
Georgetown. When George Gray was
elected United States senator in 1885 Mr..
Paynter was appointed Encouragement
to succeed him by Governor Stockley.
The appointment was made on April I'd,
1886. Prior to his appointment as at.
ey-general he had practically retired
from active court practice owing to his
defective hearing. He appointed John
Biggs, ESD, son Of Governor Bi8Rs, as
deputy attorney general.
Judge Paynter was married in 1874 to
Miss Sallie Custis Wright, daughter OF
Col. Gardner Fl. Wright of Georgetown,
She died in 1876, leaving one son. II
1883 Mr.. Paynter was married to Hannah
stockley, only daughter of Ex-Governor
Stockley.
Directly after the news of the appoint
ment reached here considerable specula
ton was indulged in as to who would b'
appointed to succeed the attorney general
ship. The only name considered in tina
connection this morning was that o
Deputy Attorney General John Biggs, soi
j NJ tho 0Ovaruor